The Chairman of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), North Central Nigeria, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, has urged the United Nations to strengthen international frameworks for the protection of journalists, warning that democracy itself is endangered when media practitioners are left vulnerable.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Ahmed described the media as the “lubricant of democracy”, stressing that no form of governance can thrive without journalists who inform the public and hold leaders accountable.
He condemned the increasing cases of harassment, incarceration and killings of journalists worldwide, citing the recent deaths of six reporters in Gaza as an example of the risks confronting media professionals.
“It is high time the UN General Assembly took a firm stand on this eyesore,” he declared.
According to him, the United Nations must remain relevant by ensuring that no superpower assumes the role of global police while guaranteeing equal treatment of nations and safeguarding journalists as a matter of international law.
Ahmed warned that a society that fails to protect its journalists undermines its democratic foundations.
“Globally, we have short memories. Something happens, and we move on without accountability. That must change if democracy is to survive,” he added.
Ahmed emphasised the urgency of creating a media endowment fund and a dedicated salary structure to uplift morale and protect professionalism.
Ahmed further decried the rise of “journalism without borders”, in which untrained individuals spread unverified information on social media.
“This trend has eroded professionalism and weakened public trust in credible news sources. Everyone with a smartphone now calls themselves a journalist, and society no longer waits for professionals. People believe anything they see online, even from unqualified sources,” he lamented.
On the Cybercrime Act, Ahmed acknowledged democracy permits freedom of expression, but rights must be exercised responsibly. He cautioned journalists and citizens to steer clear of libel, slander and defamation under the guise of free speech.